Sliding cover for ranges



July 4, 1950 D. LA BARRE El' AL SLIDING COVER FOR RANGES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. so, 194e 5cl/6721507152' flier' @er i E@ 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 D LA BARRE ETAL SLIDING COVER FOR RANGES July 4, 1950 D. LA BARRE ETAL SLIDING COVER FOR RANGEs 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 30, 1946 euer ,wf 4

July 4, 1950 D. LA BARRE HAL 2,514,133

sLIDING covER Foa RANGEs Filed Aug. 50, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented `uly 4, 1950 Tuckahoe, N'. Y., assignors to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August' so, 194e., seriaiNo. 693,880

The. present invention relatesy to ranges of the gas, electric or other burner type and especially designed for domestic and other uses. Particularly; the present improvements relate to a range cover assembly which is slidable horizontally from anormally closed position to uncover or expose the burners, and may thereafter be returned to its. normal position where the burners and their control handles or arms are covered or obscured so. that tampering with said handles or arms is prevented when the cover is over the burners or heating units.

I n, their more specic aspects the improvements contemplate a kitchen range having top burners or heating units which are adapted to be shut off by; operating swingable control arms which are moved by the instrumentality of a portion of a sliding cover while the latter is returning to its Anormally closed position.

).Ieretofore, a variety of arrangements have been made to provide covers for the tops of ranges, the purpose being to obscure the burners so that the cover will provide a suitabley table top or the like when the burners are not in use. These prior cover structures, insofar as we are aware, have been of hinged types which necessitate raising the cover to a vertical position above the, topv wall of the range when it is desired to use the burners. It is apparent that insuch raised positions these covers will be useless for receiving culinary utensils or for providing a Work surface. The present arrangement contemplates a range cover which may at all times be nsed as a table top or work surface regardless of whether said cover is in a closed position or is in an opened position with the range burners in use.-

.In the exempliilcation of the improvements disclosed herein, the cover assembly is shown in connection with a kitchen range of the gas burner type, but it will be understood that the cover assembly is equally well adapted for use with electric and other types of ranges.

It is one of the principal objectsof the present invention to simplify the construction of a movable cover for a range such as contemplated 3 Claims. (Clf. 126-42) herein and to improve the efficiency and operation of such cover.

Another principal object is to provide means for mounting a movable cover on a range, which mounting is adapted to permit a horizontal slidingy movement of the cover with the least amount of, manual eiort to cover or uncover the burners.

Another object is to provide a range cover which is correlated with the burner control meansin a manner so that during a movement of theqcover in a direction to cover or obscure burners, said control means will be engaged byva portion of the cover-and thereby operated to shut of@ or extinguishA the burner. This provides an extremely desirable safety arrangement in that it prevents any of the burners being coveredy or obscured. while ignited.

Still another object hereof is to provide a A range cover which may be used as a table tQlQ ITG.,-

gardless of whether the range burners are covered or uncovered.

Additional objects, aims and advantages .of the present invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after the construction andV operation oi the improvements are understood from the Within description. I t is preferred to ac'- complish the numerous objects of this invention and to practice the same substantially as hereinafter described and as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, wherein: A

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing a gas burner range with the present improvementsincorporated. therein, the improved cover being shown in. extended position so that the. burners are exposed for use;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section along the plane- 'of line 2.--2 on Fig. 5 and partially broken. away;v

Fig. 3 is a view similar .to Fig. 2. showing the 4cover extended;

Fig. 4-is a top plan of the upper portion or. top wall ofV the rance. Showing portions in dotted lines;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectionl taken on the plane of line 5 5 on Fig. l;v 1 y Fig. 6is a sectional view Similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified arrangement of the cover mountme means;

Fig, 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 showing another modied arrangement of the cover mounting means; e

Fig. 8 is a fragmental front View, partly in sec.- tion, showing an alternative arrangement of the sliding cover; and

Fig.y 9 is a fragmental end view, partly in sec.- tion, of the arrangement shovvnin Fig. 8.

The drawings are to be understood as being more or less of a schematic character for the purpose of disclosing typical or preferred forms of the present improvement. In these drawings, like reference characters identify the same parts in the different views.

It will be seen,4 by reference to Figs. 5v, 6Y and 7, thatrollers are interposed between the cover and the range top Wall for facilitating the easy sliding movement of the cover on the range rtop wall. In each of the types of supports shown there are guide rail members secured eitherfto the inner or theouter surface of the front and back wallsof the range, and within these guide rails there are telescopically arranged extendible members, which are snuglynested in each other kso thatv they maybe withdrawn fromor retracted 2,514,133 c i i into the guide rail. Also the inner telescoped member has an end portion which is anchored to the depending apron of the cover to move with said cover. Furthermore, stops are provided at the ends of the roller tracks to prevent the cover being moved too far away from the range' top wall or accidentally dislodged from the range.

The above arrangement, which is common to all the types disclosed, is shown'in varying detail in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the range comprises a top wall I yprovided with a plurality of burner openings II, in which gas burners I2 are located.

These burners I2 are of the usual valve-controlledY type, with suitable shut-oli arms I3 which are swingingly positioned on the front wall I4 of lthe range in a plane below the top wall I0. These control arms in their normal positions for closing the valves, are preferably each in a horizontal or tapproximately horizontal .plane and in order to open the valves for igniting the burners these arms are swung downward out of their horizontal planes as shown in Fig. 3 where they are vertically positioned. It, oi course, will be understood that in lieu of the gas burners I2, suitable electric heating units of any well known type may be used, and in this event, the control arms I3 operate the electric switches in the circuits for the heating units. The operating or control arms I3 are friotionally held in their different adjusted positions by means of spring washers I5 which are preferably of the bowed or radially fluted type, or otherwise. It will be apparent that when the cover arrangement is installed on an electric range, the current for the heating units or burners may be shut off by means of a master switch operated in the same manner as previously described with reference to a gas range.

The cover A preferably -comprises an inverted and a somewhat box-like structure consisting of a top or cover plate I6 having a depending apron I1 along its iront edge and a similar apron I8 along its adjacent end edge. Short down-turned flanges I9 and 20 extend along the rear edge and the end edge opposite the end apron I8, as seen in Fig. 3. It will be understood the aprons and flanges provide suitable reenforcement for stiftening the box-like cover body.

The top wall Ill of the range, at regions" forwardly and rearwardly of the burner openings I2, is provided with tracks 2l extending parallel with the front and rear walls of the range, said tracks comprising spaced upwardly bulged `longitudinal embossments or ribs 2Ia. As shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the embossments have a wavy or undulating shape in cross section and are of shallow depth. Suitable rollers 22, mounted in U-shaped carriers 23 secured to the inside of flange 20, are adapted to ride in the tracks 2I and support the cover in spaced relation to the top wall I0 of the range. The tracks 2l extend approximately from side to side of the top wall IB, and aligned with these tracks are abutments or stops 24 which take the form of hook shaped rollers are seated in the recesses X formed by the range corner and the respective stops 24.

The means for supporting the extended end of the cover in both forms of the improvement, include telescoped extensible assemblies B and C mounted preferably on the upper regions of the front and rear walls of the range. These assemblies comprise guide rails 25 secured to opposite vertical front and back walls of the range, preferably below the plane of the top wall and burners, and for the purpose of convenience one assembly B will be described in detail.

The guide rails are elongated hollow metal stampings have generally rectangular shape in cross section. Telescopically arranged extension members 26 and 2'I are mounted for longitudinal sliding movement Within the guide rail 25. AS seen in section in Figs. 5, 6 and '7, the outer extension member 26 has a snug fit within the guide rail or track 25, and the inner member 21 has a snug iit within its telescoped member 2B. Welldefined bearing regions are provided on the guide tracks 25 and the inner members 2l. These bearings are preferably formed by providing longitudinal outward bulges 25a in the top and bottom regions of the guide rails 25 and longitudinal inward bulges 21a in the upper and lower regions of the inner members 2l. The outer end of the inner extensible member 21 has a lateral flange 28 that is welded to the adjacent portion of the cover apron I8 so that when the cover is moved in one direction or the other, the telescope members will be extended and drawn out of the guide rails 25 or retracted into said guide rails.

Provision is made for shutting off the burners whenever the cover A is moved to a closed position in order to extinguish any ignited burners. Such an arrangement comprises a plate 29 of generally rectangular outline that is welded or otherwise secured to an inturned end flange Ila. of the front apron I'I and the short depending flange 20 of cover plate I6. This plate 29 has a cut-out or recessed portion 30 horizontally aligned with the pivotal portions of the burner valve control arms I3 in order to clear these pivot portions during sliding movement of the cover A. Plate 2S also has a portion 3l which is in a position to contact the valve arms I3 in the event any of these arms may be in a vertical position for burner operation. When the cover is Vmoved horizontally to closed position the plate portion 3l may engage any vertically disposed valve arms I3 and move them to a horizontal position where the valve shuts off the f-uel to the burner and the latter will be extinguished.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, the cover supporting telescoped members and the guide track are mounted upon the exterior of the front wall I4. In the arrangements in Figs. 6 and 7 these parts are mounted upon the inner surface of the front wall I4.

Fig. 6 shows the cover supporting assembly B slightly in front of the lower wall 32 of the burner metal stampings Welded or otherwise secured to the adjacent side wall of the range in alignment with the centers of tracks 2 I. As shown in dotted lines on Fig. 3, when the rollers 22 reach ther .hold the cover in extended position when. the

burners are uncovered or. exposed because the compartment D of the ran-ge and the range front wall has an outwardly offset portion 33 to accommodate these parts. In Fig. 7 the cover supporting assembly B is mounted on the front wall above the bottom wall 32 of the burner chamber D which does not require the offset portion 33 shown in Fig. 6. In the forms shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the telescoping members 26 and 2I pass through openings in the horizontally aligned regions of the adjacent side walls of the range and are secured to the apron I8 of .the cover in the same manner as described in connection with Fig. 5.

In each of the types shown, provision is made for restricting outward movementl of the telescopic supporting members which is eiective to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of member 26 entirely out of its companion member 25. This is accomplished by reducing the height of a portion of downturned flange 26a of member 26 to provide a shoulder or stop 26h intermediate the ends of said member. A laterally projected ear or lug 2lb is made on the corresponding proximate liange of inner member 2l, which lng is in a position to engage shoulder 26D when the inner member is being slid outwardly in its telescoped member 26. Thus, the uncovering or outward sliding movement of cover A is eective to extend the supporting members 26 and 27 with respect to the guide 25 and thereby elongate the cover support.

Conceivably, in lieu of embossed bead-like tracks 2| on the range top wall, the shiftable cover may be supported by suitable tracks mounted on the upper regions of the front and back of the range body. A construction of this character is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, wherein the tracks 34 comprise elongated bars anchored by bolts 35 to the upper regions of the front and rear faces of the range body with insulating washers 36 interposed between them and the range walls. Rollers 31, carried in brackets 38 secured to the cover A, ride on these tracks. The rear bracket has a lower roller 37a beneath the track for engagement therewith to prevent tilting of the rear region of the cover, and the front bracket has a yclplike lateral portion 38a projecting underneath the track to prevent upward movement of the front portion of the cover. Upstanding stops 39, at the left side of the range body in the path of rollers 38, prevent said rollers leaving the adjacent ends of tracks 34. In the arrangement just described the telescoped extensible assemblies B and C have been omitted in the drawings for the purpose of clearness.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the improved sliding or shiitable cover for a range provides a utility work surface either in its normally closed position above the burner openings, or when it has been shifted away from the burner openings to an opened position. When the range is not in use, the depending front apron constitutes a safety shield in front of the valve or burner control arms so that said arms are not exposed or accessible. Whenever the cover is shifted from an opened position to its closed position, such movement is effective to operate the valve or burner arms to shut off the gas or electric current, hence eliminating liability of damage to the cover by heat.

While the present improvements have been described in detail in their present typical or preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, after understanding the improvements, that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. It is aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and/or modifications.

We claim:

1. A range having a front wall; a top wall having openings therein; valve-controlled burners in said openings; valve opening and closing arms arranged forwardly of said front wall; a horizontal plate movable across said top Wall for covering and uncovering said openings and burners; rollers on said plate for movably supporting said plate in spaced relation to said top wall; tracks on front and rear regions of said top wall for guiding said rollers during travel of said plate; a plurality of telescoped members arranged in a plane parallel with said plate, the outer of said telescoped members being anchored to said front wall below said top wall and the other members adapted for sliding movement with respect to each other and also with respect to said outer member; said plate having operative connection with the inner telescoped member for effecting the aforesaid sliding movement and for supporting the adjacent end region of said plate; and means on said plate adapted to engage and close an open valve arm during movement of said plate in a direction to cover said burner.

2. A range as defined in claim l wherein said telescoped members comprise snugly nested elongated sheet metal pieces of rectangular crosssection; and Well dened longitudinally arranged bearing regions on the inner and outer members.

3. A range having a front wall; a top wall having heater openings therein; and means for covering and uncovering said heater openings comprising a plate movable in a horizontal plane across said top wall; roller means between said plate and top Wall dening arst support for said plate, said roller means facilitating movement of said plate in the aforesaid horizontal plane; a hollow guide member on said front wall below the plane of said top Wall; a pair of telescoped rails carried by said guide, one of said rails being connected to plate to dene a second support therefor, said rails having sliding movement relative to each other and also with respect to said guide, whereby to maintain said plate constantly in a horizontal plane alternately to cover and to uncover said heater openings; stop means on said range for limiting the uncovering movement of said plate; heaters in said top wall openings; control means for said heaters having operating arms projecting forwardly of said front wall; and means on said horizontal plate arranged to engage any displaced operating arm when said plate is moving in a direction to cover said heater openings thereby to shut off the heater or heaters which may be operating.

DWIGHT LA BARRE. LEONARD KELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 422,833 Post Mar. 4, 1890 697,506 MacCulloch Apr. 15, 1902 1,193,347 Bauer Aug. 1, 1916 2,044,154. Coulston June 16, 1936 2,045,061 Ahrens et al June 23, 1936 2,109,039 Turner Feb. 22, 1938 2,115,305 Fox Apr. 26, 1938 2,321,167 Taft June 8, 1943 2,338,477 Wolters Jan. 4, 1944 2,390,234 Applebaum Dec. 4, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 367,297 Germany Jan. 19, 1923 654,607 Germany July 26, 1936 

